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(Model.)

J. W. HOLDSWORTH.

INSULATING CLAMP EOE ELECTRIC WIRES.

Patented Oct. 5, 1886..

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN \V. HOLDSVORTII, OF SI. LOUIS, MISSOURI, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO ROBERT DODSW'ORTH, OF vSAME PLACE.

lNSULATlNG-CLAMP FOR ELECTRIC WIRES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 350,365, dated vOctober-5,1886.

A pplicatinn filed May 15, 1835.

T @ZZ wtont it Indy concern.: 4

Be it known that I, JoIIN W. HoLDswonfrII, of the city of St. Louis, in the State of Missouri, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Insulating-Olamps for Electric XVires, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, and in whichu Figures l, 2, 6, 7, and S are perspective views showing the clamp in modified forms. Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section at 3 3, Fig. 4. Fig. 4L is a transverse section at 4 4, Fig. 3. Fig.5 is a transverse section at 5 5, Fig. 3. I5 Fig. 9 isa detail longitudinal section in the eenf tral plane of the slot in which the wires are held.

This device, though cheap and simple in construction, is well adapted for thepurpose inzo tended, which is principally within doors, and for holding a number of parallel wires out of contact with each other and insulated from other objects. To enable this the blocks are made of wood or other insulating material, sot- 2 5 ted completely through parallel with its broad sides, except at a point near to one edge, the connection bei ng so narrow that the other edge can be drawn in contact with the wires throughout its whole length. This drawing of the 3o lips together is done by the same nails or screws by which the clamp is attached to a wall or ceiling of a building.

The clamp is shown composed of a single block or strip, A, whose sides B are nearly 3 5 separated by a slot or ker', C, shown parallel with the broad sides of the block.

D is a small post or connection at the edge I), which extends at its salient point d onefourth (more or less) of the distance from the 4o edge I toward the edge b. In the form of cleat shown in Figs. 8 and 9 this connection is placed centrally as to length of the cleat, as shown by the section-lines, in Fig. 9 and by broken lines in Fig. 8. In the form of clamp shown in the other gures the connection l) is at one corner of the clamp.

The

Serial No. 202,295. (Model.)

nail or screw holes E are placed nearer to the edge b of the clamp than the salient point d,

so that when they are driven or screwed home the slot() at the edge b shall be narrowed from 5o end to end of the cleat and the conducting wires F held tight between the sides B along this line. The end or ends B of the parts B are beveled, so as to make it easy to place the wires into the slot C by a side movement of the wires. In Fig. 6 the inner faces of the sides B are shown` with grooves B2, by which the wires are held asu nder before they are clamped fast by the approach of the sides B at the edge b.

In Fig. 7 the clamp is shown with part of the slot C wider than the other part, to accommodate the clamp to wires of different In the use of the clamp it is attached by a nail or screw, G, in one of the holes E nearest to the connection D, said nail or screw not being forced home, so that the slot C :is not closed in any degree. The wires may then be put in position, after which nails or screws are driven or screwed home in all the holes E, (or 7o as many as needed,)and the wires are thus fixed in position.

I am aware that an insulatingelamp for electric wires having two jaws separated by a kerf and connected together entirely across one end is not new, and this, ol" course, I do not claim; but

I claim as my invention- The insulating-clamp for wires, constructed, as herein described, oI' two jaws or members, 8c B B, nearly separated by a kerf, C, and con nected only by a contracted post or bond, D, leaving three or lmore corners disconnected and i'ree, so as to afford independent flexibility tothe various parts of the clamp and S5 adapt it to hold or release the various wires separately, as explained.

JOHN W. IIOLDSVORTH.

XVitnesses:

SMIL. KNIGHT, BENJN, A. KNIGHT. 

